Thank you for all the support for this story, I felt guilty finishing it.

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When Merlin came out of the spare bedroom he was still finding it difficult to talk to either his mother or Arthur, none of them had slept much. Merlin did suggest that Arthur go to work telling the blond "I need more time to work this through."

Arthur reluctant went, he knew he wouldn't get much done but was trying to respect Merlin's space. Mid morning Morgana turned up at the flat and Hunith went out to get some fresh air leaving Merlin with his sister in law.

"Merlin I know what's happened I forced Arthur to tell me, he looked like shit, he's gone to my house for a while. Look I know your might not want to talk about this but other than Leon and myself no one else knows what happened." She looked at Merlin with sympathy "I'll say my bit and then leave it to you."

Merlin looked at her "And why should I believe you?"

"I can't make you Merlin, It was me that suggested you to Arthur in the first place. I'd heard about your problems and your mum's illness. Our family has known Gaius for years; he was more a father to us than Uther was when we were small. Since all this happened, your mother and me have become good friends and I hate to see her so upset. Look sit down please, and just listen to me. Once I've said my piece I'll leave, I promise."

Merlin reluctantly sat down opposite Morgana and looked at her waiting for her to speak.

"My father was a tyrant who tried to control Arthur's every move, when Arthur told him he was gay Uther went mad, he told Arthur he'd grow out of it and tried to force him to marry. His will was made before same sex marriages became legal and he hadn't thought to change it. At least Arthur could marry a man. He didn't want to deceive anyone so once you two had met he immediately put his cards on the table. You knew what the facts were straight away. You agreed to help Arthur and between you you agreed terms. You were to act as a husband in public no one was to know it was a sham. The trouble was as soon as he saw you Arthur realised you were just his type. He soon fell for you. But he had promised you it would be a platonic relationship with only public displays of affection. We both knew he was stuffed. Your mother guessed what was happening, but she was worried about you, you were working every hour of the day and doing all sorts to raise the money. Hunith told me she also realised that you fancied Arthur." She paused and looked at Merlin who remained silent.

"It was soon clear to everyone that your were both head over heels for each other, the trouble is you were both determined to keep to the deal you had made. Arthur coped by making the most of the time he could be close to you by being very affectionate, you tried to build a wall and hardly spoke to him unless you were out together. I had hoped the honeymoon would help. Then at Christmas we hatched a plan and you both stayed with Hunith for Christmas and me the New Year we ensured you had to share beds, but nothing happened." Morgana smiled fondly at Merlin

"When you had what we thought was your accident Arthur was torn to shreds, all pretence was gone he was in pieces he wouldn't leave your side, nor would Hunith. Then when they found you remembered nothing. Well what could they do, you were very ill and distressed so they went along with pretence. They didn't lie even then, telling you your both loved each other long before you married, that at least was true. Then you had your brain infection, Merlin you nearly died again! The doctors said they didn't think you'd ever remember, and you seemed to be falling for Arthur all over again but without the deal between you." he paused

"Your mother loves you so much and your hurting her Merlin, no she didn't tell you the truth but does that matter, she was there for you. As for Arthur he adores you, and you love him and don't tell me otherwise. Are you going to throw that away! That sort of love is rare Merlin please don't be a fool. Not just for pride. You love them both so be brave and forgive them."

Merlin looked at Morgana "I do love them, but it hurts Morgana It hurts" tears started to fall once more and Morgana moved and sat next to him and hugged him."They hurt as well; they know they should have told you, but when? What would you have done? Be honest with yourself" Morgana held Merlin as he sobbed out all his built up emotions.

"Look Merlin I'm going now, your mum will be back soon, just hug her tell her you love her, after all this whole thing started because you loved her, you were willing to do anything to save her. Then when Arthur comes back, talk to him, be honest. I know you've seen the wedding photos can't you see the love in both of your faces, that wasn't acting."

Merlin nodded "You're right"

"I know I am, I want you as a proper brother, Merlin. And this time for keeps." She hugged him "You're a good man Merlin don't let this ruin you. You went into this with your eyes open, don't shut them now." Morgana stood up "I'm off I think I heard the lift, that will be your Mum, ring me later OK?"

Morgana went to the door and opened it to find Hunith hovering outside. She squeezed her friends arm in encouragement and left them to it. Hunith went in and Merlin looked at her and stood up and moved towards her "I'm sorry Mum"

He grabbed his mother and hugged her. Hunith hugged back before saying "It's me that needs to apologise not you. You got in this mess because of me"

"I'd do it again if it meant you'd get better" he protested "I love you mum, I should have understood you won't have done what you did without reason."

They sat and talked things through before Hunith went to collect all her things. "As soon as Arthur comes home I'm off, you need to sort things out between you. Please be careful Merlin, I know you love him; love is precious and should be nurtured. I have seen that man brought to his knees thinking he was going to lose you, that wasn't faked."

"I know Mum"

Arthur arrived home about an hour after Morgana had left, she had clearly brought him home. As he walked in the door he saw Huniths things waiting by the door. He looked at Merlin and Hunith hopefully "Morgana said she would take you home if you wanted Hunith"

"That's kind of her, I'll wait for you to ring me …..tomorrow Merlin" Hunith said to her son, she kissed Merlin and Arthurs cheeks before collecting her things and leaving.

Arthur looked at Merlin unsure what to do next. After a pause he looked at Merlin "I'm so very very sorry Merlin, can you bring yourself to forgive me? If you can't I understand and I will continue to help you in any way I can, you can keep this flat and I will help you financially…"

"Shut up Arthur, let me speak…. I think I understand what happened and why, I went into this agreement with my eyes open that is clear. I can see the problem after my accident ….. Mum and Morgana tell me we were both in love with each other and to stupid to talk about it, I know what I can be like with a relationship, that's why I've never had a long term one since Will. I still feel hurt that I had my first sex without realising it. I know that probably sounds silly to you, that out of everything that's what hurts the most, but it does. I've always wanted to be able to keep myself for that special person and for them to know it…" by now Merlin was looking down at his feet and wringing his hands together.

"Merlin …. It was special, I felt special, but I also felt guilty that you thought we had already had that moment …. But it didn't make it any less special for me and I tried to make it special for you" Arthur walked forward into Merlin's close personal space and held out his arms "Please Merlin let's start again, let me prove to you that I do love you"

Merlin looked up at the blond and sobbed "I want to, I do but…"

Arthur took the last step forward and gathered Merlin into his arms and held him as they both cried silent tears. Arthur put his hand under Merlin's chin and turned the other man's face to his "Let's make a fresh start Merlin. I promise faithfully never to lie to you again." He stared into Merlin's eyes as the raven haired man gradually moved closer. The first kiss was tentative and light but the next was deeper. Arthur's arms moved round Merlin and held him in a tight embrace as Merlin moved his hands round Arthurs's neck and pulled him closer. It was sometime before they moved but it as Merlin's stomach growling that broke them apart with a laugh on Arthur's part.

"You need feeding, when was the last time you ate?" he smiled at Merlin.

"Breakfast, I couldn't eat much, I had a drink of milk at dinnertime" Merlin admitted.

"Right well I'm not going to cook nor are you, let's see what we've got or I'll order a take a way." They went into the kitchen to see Hunith had left out a meal for them to heat up. "Your mother is an angel"

They put the meals in the microwave and soon demolished them before sitting together on the sofa and then they talked and talked for several hours, opening up like they never had with each other. Then they went to bed together and made love slow and gentle each frightened that the other would turn away. Eventually they fell asleep in each other's arms. The morning sex was far more heated and it was eleven o'clock before they finally remembered the outside world. Merlin rang his mother and Arthur rang his sister before they got themselves a brunch. Arthur took a week of work and the two men got to know each other in every way before they were ready to face the wider world. At the end of the week they held the long awaited dinner party for their friends.

A year later

The trial had just finished of Agravaine and Morgause De Bois. Agravaine was given two years for aiding and abetting his wife and Morgause was given ten years. But they also knew before they went to serve their sentences that the two men had a strong and very loving relationship so they would never get control of the company that had caused them to act in such a way in the first place. It seemed Uther Pendragon's will had had consequences he could never have envisioned.

Merlin had not regained any of his past memories but he was content not to, he had not continued with his plans to become a doctor. The thought of starting his training from the beginning along with the risk to his health from the increased risk of infections had made that easier for him to cope with. He did however start to train as a baker, he loved it but was uncertain if he would actually start a business as he wanted to spend as much time as he could with Arthur. It seemed likely that although he would work his relationship with his husband would always come first. Arthur was spending less time at work making sure he finished on time and had every weekend off and he also took his holiday entitlement.

They had truly become a golden pair, and no one, except the six people in the know, would ever have guessed it was anything other than love at first sight even if they had been told the truth. Yes they had moments when life was difficult but they were few and they made a point of making sure they never went to bed angry. They were both in this for the long term, no thoughts now of a five years marriage. Merlin remained very fond of his sister in law, she may have had a reputation as being scary but to him she was always a kind and loving sister. Hunith and Gaius remained very close to both men and Arthur came to see both of them as his family. Bringing Arthur' relationship with Gaius back full circle.

The end